Improvement in devices for increasing traction of locomotives



L A. BITES. i Device forlncreasing Traction of Locomotives. N0, \59,l153 Pa ente'd Fevb.2,1875'.

UNITED STATES PATENT e OFFICE.

LEWIS A. RITES, OF GREY COURT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR INCREASING TRCTION OF LOCOMOTIVES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,453, dated February 2, 1875; application filed v November 28, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS A. BITES, oi Grey Oourt, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in the Method and Means of Increasing theTraction oi' Locomotive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view, and Fig. 2 a bottom view, of my invention.

This invention has relation to the means for increasing the. traction of locomotive-engines when ascending grades, by imposing thereon the weight of the tank following; and it consists in the combination, with an elbowlever connecting the power on the engine with the tank, of a pivoted arm, to which said lever is fulcrumed, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A

elbow. The depending arm of the lever is bifurcated for the passage of the piston-rod, to which it is secured by a transverse pin. The horizontal arm extends underneath the tank, and passes through a stirrup, e.

Steam is admitted to the cylinder in any convenient way, and when it is desired to increase the traction of the engine the steam is let into the cylinder behind the piston, which, being propelled, elevates the tank from its springs upon the lever F, and thus throws a pressure equivalent to the power applied upon the engine-wheels. The boiler-pressure is, ot' course, sufcient to keep the piston in position. The tank is let down by turning oft' the steam-pressure from the back of the piston, and exhausting the cylinder.

It' necessary, steam may be employed in front of the piston to propel it back.

The object in pivoting the arm F to the tank is to allow the lever to swing laterally, and correspond with the relative movements of the engine and tank.

Having described my invention, I claim- The pivoted arm F', in combination with the elbow-lever F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of October, 1874.

LEWIS A. BITES.

Witnesses:

GHAs. A. OoNNoLLv, Jos. B. CoNNoLLY. 

